[Dixielandjazz] Dogfight

[Stephen G Barbone]

On Dec 28, 2011, at 10:36 AM, Pat Ladd wrote:

> So then is "jazz" regional>
>
> Of course it is. East Coast, West Coast, Chicago etc but that is  
> rather beside the point. I have never heard the term `dogfight` in  
> the UK either.
>
> Just to point up another difference.; leaders in the UK to indicate  
> the key show fingers `down` for flats` and `up` for sharp s`. I  
> understand that it is the other way round in the US ?
>
> Pat

Dear Pat & Bill:

Probably because your musicians skipped the Ragtime era, and the  
Marching Band era as a precursor to the development of jazz. Musicians  
who picked up on jazz directly from the USA, apparently did not  
research how it developed in the USA.

http://www.youtu.be/watch?v=EXrJ6E7SKhQ&feature=related

In addition to the book section I posted previously, here is another  
book section explaining the word "dogfight: "Music Listening Today" by  
Charles Hofer. Page 290.

"Dogfight is a term band directors often use to describe a part of a  
march in which there is a rapid exchange  of musical material among  
sections of the band."  The book then does on to describe "The Stars  
and Stripes Forever"  (1896) which "follows traditional march form,  
except for the addition of a break, or dogfight before returning to  
the main melody of the trio."

Or, from a book on Early Circus Marches:

"The breakstrain separates two statements of the main trio theme and  
is characterized by harmonic instability and alternating motives  
between high and low instruments. For this reason, the breakstrain is  
sometimes referred to as the 'dogfight'. The original nickname for the  
breakstrain was evidently 'dog and cat fight' and many older musicians  
still refer to that term."

Anyhow, this is where the term comes from and American Dixieland  
musicians picked up on it from the beginning of jazz. I guess jazz  
bands outside the USA copied the music, but not all the conventions.  
Heck, it might be fun for these band leaders to be among the first  
internationally to yell out "DOGFIGHT" during those tunes which  
contain them. Especially if they are trying to present these tunes and  
times accurately. VBG.

Regarding how the fingers are placed to indicate flats and sharps,  
that depends where you are in the USA. In Philadelphia most of us in  
Dixieland show fingers up for flats, down for sharps and form a C with  
thumb and first finger for that key. Mainly because most songs we play  
are in flat keys and it is easier to do and more readily seen by all  
band mates when we switch keys during a song. However, in New York  
City the convention corresponds with the system you use in the UK.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband